Please join us for the

2025 We Are EMILY National Gala

Wednesday, May 7, 2025
The Anthem
901 Wharf Street SW
Washington, D.C. 20024

Please join EMILYs List as we commemorate our 40th Anniversary at this year’s We Are EMILY National Gala! This special event will honor the incredible achievements of our organization over the past four decades, reflecting on the progress we’ve made in empowering women to lead and shape the future of our democracy. As we celebrate these victories, we also look forward to the vital work still ahead.

While EMILYs List has been at the forefront of transforming the political landscape by electing more groundbreaking Democratic pro-choice women, the journey is far from over. Together, we will continue to push for a future where women’s voices and leadership are central to every level of government.

We Are EMILY Award Recipient

The We Are EMILY Award honors extraordinary women who are making a significant impact on our nation through consistent leadership and inspiration to the EMILYs List community – which is now more than five million strong.

EMILYs List is thrilled to announce that we will honor and hear from EMILYs List Founder and Chair Emerita at this year’s We Are EMILY!

Before Ellen Malcolm founded EMILYs List 40 years ago, no Democratic woman had ever been elected to the Senate in her own right. In 1985, Ellen and a small group of friends decided to change that by developing a new political strategy. To give women candidates credibility and the resources to win, they decided to raise early money and called their organization EMILYs List (Early Money Is Like Yeast, it “makes the dough rise”). They created a new concept in political fundraising — a donor network that encouraged members to contribute to the candidates EMILYs List recommended.

They gathered in Ellen’s basement, rolodexes in hand, to send letters to friends asking them to join. From that simple beginning, EMILYs List has grown into a 5-million-member community and is widely recognized as one of the most powerful political organizations in the country. Ellen served as EMILYs List’s president for 25 years.

Ellen is a veteran Democratic activist and fundraiser who began her career as an organizer at Common Cause and later served as press secretary for the National Women’s Political Caucus. In 1980, Ellen went to work at the White House as the press secretary for President Jimmy Carter’s special assistant for consumer affairs. After leaving the White House, Ellen earned a Master’s in Business Administration from George Washington University.

Like Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, Ellen is a recipient of Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Margaret Sanger Award — the organization’s highest honor — which is “presented annually to recognize leadership, excellence, and outstanding contributions to the reproductive health and rights movement.” Ellen has been named one of the most influential women in America by Vanity Fair, one of Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year, one of Ladies’ Home Journal’s 100 Most Important Women in America, and one of Time magazine’s 50 Women Who Made American Political History. In 2014, Ellen was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the American Association of Political Consultants.

In 2003, Ellen helped create America Coming Together (ACT), a nationwide organization dedicated to empowering and mobilizing voters. Ellen served as ACT’s president in 2003 and 2004, helping to raise over $145 million for a sophisticated and personal voter contact effort in key states. She was also instrumental in the creation of America Votes, a coalition of progressive groups (including EMILYs List) that works together to register, educate, and mobilize voters.

Hillary Clinton — whose historic 2008 campaign for president Ellen co-chaired — once told The New York Times that Ellen Malcolm is “probably the most influential fundraiser and adviser we’ve seen. I don’t know anybody who can match her track record.”

Ellen is the author of When Women Win: EMILYs List and the Rise of Women in American Politics.

Today, Ellen Malcolm continues her work to level the playing field for women seeking elected office and to inspire and create opportunity for women and girls across the country in her role as Chair Emerita of the EMILYs List Board of Directors. She is also former Chair of the Board of the National Partnership for Women & Families and is a former member of the Board of Directors for the National Park Foundation.

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Special Guests
- Angela Alsobrooks Senator from Maryland
- Gabrielle Giffords Former U.S. Representative from Arizona
- Deb Haaland Candidate for Governor of New Mexico
- Jessica Mackler President of EMILYs List
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Schedule

Tuesday, May 6th

We Are EMILY Welcome Dinner		Exciting programming will be announced soon!

Wednesday, May 7th

We Are EMILY Political Briefing		Exciting programming will be announced soon!
We Are EMILY National Gala		Exciting programming will be announced soon!

Gabrielle Giffords Rising Star Award
Named in honor of the dedicated and courageous Gabrielle Giffords, the Rising Star Award celebrates an extraordinary woman serving in state or local office. The award honors women who demonstrate commitment to their communities, dedication to women and families, and determination and civility that have been the highlights of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ career, both in and out of office.

Here are our amazing nominees!
- State Sen. Amanda Cappelletti PA-SD17
- State Rep. Jasmine Clark GA-HD108
- State Del. Adele McClure VA-HD02
- State Sen. Cindy Nava NM-SD09
- State Rep. Lindsey Prather NC-HD115
- Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan AZ-Senate LD18
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Tickets

TICKET LEVEL: PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE - $100,000

Invitation to We Are EMILY Welcome Dinner on Tuesday, May 6
6 tickets to Political Briefing
6 tickets to Changemakers Reception
4 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
Premier full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala
Full table at a regional conference

TICKET LEVEL: CHAMPION - $50,000

Invitation to We Are EMILY Welcome Dinner on Tuesday, May 6
4 tickets to Political Briefing
4 tickets to Changemakers Reception
6 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
Premier full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala
Full table at a regional conference

TICKET LEVEL: 40TH ANNIVERSARY CHAIR - $40,000

Invitation to We Are EMILY Welcome Dinner on Tuesday, May 6
2 tickets to Political Briefing
2 tickets to Changemakers Reception
8 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
Premier full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala
Half table at a regional conference

TICKET LEVEL: PATRON - $10,000

2 tickets to Political Briefing
10 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
Preferred Full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala

TICKET LEVEL: HOST - $5,000

1 ticket to Political Briefing
10 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
Full table (10 seats) at We Are EMILY National Gala
Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala

TICKET LEVEL: SPONSOR - $2,500

1 ticket to Political Briefing
2 tickets to Groundbreakers Reception
2 seats at We Are EMILY National Gala
Name and/or logo acknowledged at Gala

TICKET LEVEL: MAJORITY COUNCIL RENEWAL - $1,500

1 ticket to Political Briefing
1 ticket to Groundbreakers Reception
1 seat at We Are EMILY National Gala
Name acknowledged at Gala

TICKET LEVEL: RENEWED MAJORITY COUNCIL - $300

For Majority Council members who have renewed Majority Council memberships for 2025 only
1 ticket to Political Briefing
1 ticket to Groundbreakers Reception
1 seat at We Are EMILY National Gala
Name acknowledged at Gala

TICKET LEVEL: GUEST - $500

Limited Availability
1 ticket to Groundbreakers Reception
1 seat at We Are EMILY National Gala
Venue Information

Location

The Anthem is located at 901 Wharf Street SW Washington, D.C. 20024.

Security
Please note that all guests will need to show a government-issued photo ID and pass through an airport-style security screening prior to entering the receptions and gala. Please plan accordingly.

Hotel Directions to the Anthem

Please take the hotel elevator down to the G1 Level and exit through the main doors. After exiting, turn right towards the wharf and there will be EMILYs List staff stationed along the route to the Anthem for your convenience.

Parking

Please park at the Wharf Parking Garage, located at 20 Blair Alley SW, Washington, D.C. 20024.

The most convenient location to park in the garage is in the yellow section labeled C1, C2, and C3. After parking, please take the elevators or stairs in that section to G (District SQ, Street Level).

Parking Costs:

0-½ Hour: $6
½ – 1 Hour: $11
1 – 2 Hours: $23
2 – 3 Hours: $28
3 – 4 Hours: $32

Rideshare

Please have your rideshare driver drop you off outside of Mi Vida located at 98 District Square SW, Washington D.C. 20024.

Metro

The closest Metro station is the L’Enfant Metro Station. From there, you may choose to walk 15 minutes or take a shuttle from the Metro stop to the Wharf.

Accessibility

For accessibility accommodations, please contact [email protected] at least one week prior to the event.

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Contact

Questions? Please email [email protected].

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